Biden reverses Trump census exclusion policy on first day

President Joe Biden signs an executive order on January 20, 2021, requiring the census to count all residents for apportionment regardless of immigration status. The order reverses the Trump administration's attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants from the apportionment base. Biden says the Constitution and Census Act require a fair and accurate count of all people living in each state. The reversal affects representation and federal resource allocation for immigrant-heavy and racially diverse communities. The order restores the traditional inclusive apportionment rule after a dispute that tied immigration status to political representation.